Geranium plant named ‘Penton’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Penton’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double bright scarlet red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Penton’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Penton’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new semi-double flowered Zonal Geranium cultivars with uniform plant habit, dark green-colored foliage and attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2003 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. The cultivar Penton was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Penton’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Penton’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double bright scarlet red-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacvica’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,187. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Pacvica’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than         plants of ‘Pacvica’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Pacvica’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller leaves than         plants of ‘Pacvica’.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had more flower umbels per         plant than plants of ‘Pacvica’.     -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had shorter peduncles and         pedicels than plants of ‘Pacvica’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Penton’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were six months from planting when the photograph and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Penton’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely             foliated. Vigorous growth habit. Freely basal branching             habit with about 15 lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Bi-crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146C. Zonation pattern: Weak to             medium. Location from margin: About 1 cm. Width: About             1.5 cm. Color: Darker than 147A. Petiole: Length: About             6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about twelve             flower umbels per plant each with about 25 flower buds and             open flowers.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from             April until frost in the autumn. Flowers persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Roughly elliptic. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six to eight. Length:             About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 40A;             venation, close to 40A. Color does not fade with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 40C; venation, close to 40C.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about three. Length:             About 1.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 40A;             towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 40A.             Color does not fade with development. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 40C; towards the base, close             to 155D; venation, close to 40C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl; fused. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13 cm to 16 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 175A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eight. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 185A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 25A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma             shape: Five-parted. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Style             length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 46A. Ovary color:             Close to 140B.         -   Seeds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Color: Close to 165A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     1° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden     performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Penton’ as illustrated and described. 